PSC Commissioners

About Kirk Bushman, Commissioner

I’ve stepped into my new role as a Montana Public Service Commissioner representing
the state’s District 2 seat with the understanding that experience comes from many
places and is usually something you get right after you need it!

Thankfully, I bring to the job a diverse background spanning more than 20 years
in the private industry that will help me serve on the Commission. I have worked
as a pool cleaner, driveway sweeper, cement worker, greens keeper, stock boy, bus
boy, dish washer, drafter, truck driver, log home builder, pipefitter helper, laborer,
announcer, field engineer and project manager.

My professional career began when I graduated in 1988 from Montana State University,
Bozeman, with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology. The first
time I flew was for a job interview in Wisconsin for which I was hired as a field
engineer in the “corrugated container” industry, yes, cardboard boxes. As a field
engineer, I travelled extensively. I have had a hand in the making of many a pizza
box across this great country. I was also fortunate to travel the world; many European
countries and others such as Canada, Australia, Columbia, Thailand and more. I managed
major projects and had high expectations placed upon me with experience soon to
follow. Working with people from different countries speaking different languages
added to the many challenges that already existed. This involved managing all phases
of a project from construction and installation to training plant personnel as well
as performing to the terms of sales contracts. This required overcoming cultural
differences and language barriers, as well as dealing with each group’s business
interest. Communication and professionalism were key values needed to be successful.

With my heart still in Montana, I chose to move back home to Billings. For the past
13 years I have worked with the engineering consulting firm, WorleyParsons (previously
Unifield) Engineering, in the industrial engineering sector. I worked on projects
with refineries, power plants, mining companies, silicon production facilities and
more. Many were to meet government regulations, some were to increase production
and efficiency and some were to recycle outdated facilities that had been shut down.

In 2007, unwilling to leave the future to career politicians, I ran for the U.S.
Senate in the Republican primary. I continued gaining experience in politics serving
as chairman of the Yellowstone County Republicans for three years. In 2012, I was
honored to be elected to the District 2 seat on the Public Service Commission. The
PSC deals with a wide variety of issues; some of them complicated, some entangled
in government bureaucracy and a few influenced by politics.

Kirk was born, raised, and educated in Montana. He is the son of Hazel and the late
Don Bushman, and the eighth of 12 children. Kirk graduated from Billings Central
Catholic High School and earned his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Montana
State University - Bozeman. Kirk is married to Jill Pankratz, daughter of Larry
and Colleen Pankratz, who farm and ranch in Opheim, Montana. Kirk and Jill currently
live in Billings with their three children.